Interests Of
p. 39 · Read in the full issue
Laws Will Protect
Norfolk Islanders
New regulations are to be intro duced on Norfolk Island to protect the interests of permanent residents against those of "mainlanders" at tracted to the island by the current tourist boom.
The Norfolk Island Council dis cussed the regulations with the Aus tralian Minister for Territories, Mr. C E. Barnes, early in October when he paid a brief visit to the island—his second since becoming Minister in late 1963.
As a result of the discussions, the island's immigration laws will be tightened to prevent the island being flooded with new settlers; and the electoral laws will be amended so that new settlers will not become eligible for election to the council until they have lived on the island for three years. They will, however, be able to vote in council elections, after six months' residence —if they qualify as permanent residents.
The proposed amendments to the electoral laws could prevent a com plete change in the composition of the council after the next elections in July, 1968.